Fermentation tank wine press

Abstract

A novel wine making apparatus includes an engaging mechanism for engaging a fermentation tank, and a press mechanism for pressing the wine making ingredients in the tank against an inner surface of the tank. In a particular embodiment, the engaging mechanism includes a tray for receiving the tank, and the press mechanism includes a press plate for pressing the contents of the tank against an inner surface of the tank. The engaging mechanism is moveably coupled to the press plate, and the wine making apparatus includes at least one drive mechanism to move the tank with respect to the press plate, in order to press the ingredients within the tank. A novel method of making wine is also disclosed, and includes loading a tank with ingredients, fermenting the ingredients in the tank to produce wine, and at least partially pressing the wine in the fermentation tank to separate the wine from solids.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A wine pressing apparatus, comprising: 
 an engaging mechanism adapted to engage a tank; and    a press mechanism coupled to said engaging mechanism for pressing contents of said tank against an inner surface of said tank.    
     
     
         2 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said press mechanism includes a press plate for placement within said tank, whereby said contents of said tank can be pressed between said press plate and said inner surface of said tank.  
     
     
         3 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the shape and dimensions of said press plate are substantially similar to the inner shape and dimensions of said tank.  
     
     
         4 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said press plate is circular.  
     
     
         5 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said press plate defines at least one aperture to facilitate the flow of wine through said press plate, while retaining solid material on one side of said press plate.  
     
     
         6 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said press plate further defines a bypass opening for receiving a bypass device.  
     
     
         7 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said bypass device comprises a bypass tube disposed in said bypass opening to facilitate the flow of said wine past said press plate.  
     
     
         8 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein a wall of said bypass tube includes a plurality of apertures to facilitate the flow of wine through said wall of said bypass tube while keeping solid material out of said bypass tube.  
     
     
         9 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the wall of said bypass tube includes a solid section at each end; and    the wall of said bypass tube defines said plurality of apertures between said solid sections.    
     
     
         10 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said bypass tube can slide within said bypass opening.  
     
     
         11 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said bypass tube further includes at least one retaining device to retain said bypass tube within said bypass opening.  
     
     
         12 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said press mechanism further includes a frame for receiving said tank and for supporting said press plate within said tank.  
     
     
         13 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said frame comprises: 
 a first portion coupled to said engaging mechanism; and    a second portion detachably engaging said first portion, said press plate being coupled to said second portion.    
     
     
         14 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said first portion of said frame includes a plurality of legs, and said second portion of said frame includes: 
 a body;    a first plurality of legs coupled to said body for engaging said plurality of legs of said first portion of said frame; and    a second plurality of legs, each of said second plurality of legs having a first end coupled to said body and a second end coupled to said press plate.    
     
     
         15 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said plurality of legs of said first portion of said frame is shorter than at least one other of said plurality of legs of said first portion of said frame, to facilitate inserting said tank in said frame.  
     
     
         16 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said second portion of said frame comprises: 
 a cross-frame;    a first plurality of legs extending perpendicularly from said cross-frame at positions beyond the perimeter of said tank for engaging said first portion of said frame; and    a second plurality of legs extending perpendicularly from said cross-frame at positions within the perimeter of said tank for engaging said press plate.    
     
     
         17 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising at least one drive mechanism for moving said engaging mechanism with respect to said second portion of said frame.  
     
     
         18 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said first portion is held in a fixed position with respect to said second portion;    said engaging mechanism includes a tray for receiving said tank; and    said drive mechanism includes at least one lifting mechanism adapted to lift said tray with respect to said first portion of said frame.    
     
     
         19 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said drive mechanism includes a plurality of lifting mechanisms.  
     
     
         20 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of lifting mechanisms are arranged around the perimeter of said tray.  
     
     
         21 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a leveling sensor fixed to said tray; and    a control system responsive to a signal from said leveling sensor, and operative to drive each of said lifting mechanisms to maintain said tray in a level position during a pressing operation.    
     
     
         22 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said first portion of said frame is held stationary with respect to said tank;    said first portion of said frame is movably coupled to said second portion of said frame; and    said drive mechanism moves said second portion of said frame with respect to said first portion of said frame.    
     
     
         23 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 22 , further including a plurality of independently controllable drive mechanisms.  
     
     
         24 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein said drive mechanisms comprise power cylinders.  
     
     
         25 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said drive mechanism comprises at least one powered cylinder.  
     
     
         26 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said drive mechanism comprises at least one single or double acting hydraulic cylinder.  
     
     
         27 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 13 , further including an alignment mechanism for aligning said tank with respect to said press mechanism.  
     
     
         28 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein: 
 said engaging mechanism includes a tray for receiving said tank; and    said aligning mechanism includes a plurality of concentric recesses formed in the bottom of said tray to receive tanks of varying sizes in a centered position with respect to said press plate.    
     
     
         29 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein said concentric recesses comprise a plurality of concentric rings fixed to the base of said tray.  
     
     
         30 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein each of said concentric rings are selectively removable from said tray.  
     
     
         31 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein: 
 said first portion of said frame includes a plurality of upwardly extending legs; and    said alignment mechanism comprises a plurality of alignment blocks each mounted to a respective one of said upwardly extending legs, to align said tank within said frame.    
     
     
         32 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein each of said alignment blocks has a tapered upper end to guide said tank into alignment as said tank is lowered into said frame.  
     
     
         33 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of wheels fixed to said frame for transporting said wine pressing apparatus.  
     
     
         34 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said frame further includes a plurality of guideways for receiving the forks of a lift truck.  
     
     
         35 . A wine pressing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising said tank, and wherein the inner surface of said tank is substantially continuous.  
     
     
         36 . A method of making wine, comprising: 
 placing ingredients in a tank;    fermenting said ingredients in said tank; and    pressing said ingredients in said tank to at least partially separate liquid from solid ingredients.    
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein said step of pressing said ingredients includes loading said tank into a press mechanism.  
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 said press mechanism includes a perforated press plate; and    said step of pressing said ingredients within said tank includes squeezing said ingredients between said press plate and a wall of said tank.    
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 38 , wherein: 
 said press plate includes a bypass opening; and    said step of pressing said ingredients within said tank further includes inserting a perforated bypass tube in said bypass opening;    thereby allowing liquid ingredients to flow through said bypass opening while retaining solid ingredients on one side of said press plate.    
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 38 , wherein said step of pressing said ingredients within said tank further includes moving said press plate toward the bottom of said tank.  
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 40 , wherein said step of moving said press plate toward the bottom of said tank comprises: 
 fixing said press plate to a frame; and    raising said tank with respect to said frame.    
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 41 , wherein said step of raising said tank with respect to said frame further includes maintaining said tank in a level position.  
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein said step of fermenting said ingredients in said tank includes removing said tank from said press mechanism while said ingredients are fermenting.  
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein said step of pressing said ingredients comprises at least partially pressing said ingredients before fermenting said ingredients.  
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein said step of pressing said ingredients comprises at least partially pressing said ingredients after fermenting said ingredients.  
     
     
         46 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein said step of pressing said ingredients includes repeatedly pressing said ingredients.  
     
     
         47 . A method according to  claim 46 , wherein said step of repeatedly pressing said ingredients includes removing said tank from said press mechanism between each pressing of said ingredients.  
     
     
         48 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein said step of fermenting said ingredients further includes cooling said tank while fermenting said ingredients.  
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 48 , wherein said step of cooling said tank includes inserting said tank into a cooling vessel.  
     
     
         50 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein said method of making wine further includes removing liquid ingredients from said tank while said tank is in said press mechanism.  
     
     
         51 . A method according to  claim 50 , wherein said step of removing said liquid ingredients from said tank further includes pressing said ingredients after said step of fermenting said ingredients in said tank but before removing said liquid from said tank.  
     
     
         52 . A method according to  claim 51 , further comprising: 
 removing said tank from said press mechanism after removing said liquid ingredients; and    removing any solid ingredients remaining in said tank.    
     
     
         53 . A method according to  claim 50 , wherein said step of removing said liquid ingredients from said tank includes removing a first portion of said liquids from said tank prior to any post-fermentation pressing.  
     
     
         54 . A method according to  claim 53 , further comprising: 
 pressing any contents remaining in said tank after said step of removing said first portion of said liquid ingredients from said tank; and    removing additional liquid ingredients resulting from said step of pressing said remaining contents.    
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 54 , further comprising: 
 removing said tank from said press mechanism after removing said additional liquid ingredients; and    removing any solid ingredients remaining in said tank.    
     
     
         56 . A method according to  claim 50 , wherein said step of removing said liquid ingredients from said tank includes withdrawing said liquid ingredients through a perforated tube.  
     
     
         57 . A method according to  claim 50 , wherein said step of removing said liquid ingredients from said tank includes suctioning said liquid ingredients from said tank.